Our employee highlight for June is a new-to-us river guide. Welcome, to Mark Ulbrich!

Also proficient in rock climbing, Mark is an exciting addition to our river guide team here at River Riders. Through various ventures, he’s been a part of West Virginia’s outdoor adventure scene for years. This season has already started off with a bang for Mark, as he jumped right in to all the commotion during the flooding in Harpers Ferry this spring, helping all of us here navigate the challenges.

Now he’s on to exciting adventures on the river instead of fighting back the river. Here’s a little about Mark!

Question: How long have you been with River Riders?

Answer:“Over a month”

Welcome aboard, Mark! We’re all in for an exciting season.

Question: How did you get into the guiding/adventure related industry?

Answer: “It sounded fun.”

Really, that’s what it boils down to for all of us…it’s just fun. Pure and simple.

Question: What’s the first memory you have of an adrenaline rush when you were a child?

Answer:“I was playing a game of ‘who could get closest to the horse’. I won…but also ended up getting kicked into a fence.”

So I guess in the end, the horse won? Either way, we’re glad you got back up and kept finding more adventure!

Question: What’s the absolute craziest thing you’ve ever done?

Answer:“I was in Colorado and wanted to climb this glacier called St. Mary’s Glacier. I didn’t have any gear so I found two sharp rocks and started climbing. I ended up slipping and fell 80 feet before coming to a stop 20 feet from a cliff edge.”

We suppose now would be an appropriate time to say “Children, do not try this at home.” But seriously, wow…impressive resilience. You keep coming back for more!

Question: Most awkward moment on the river. Go…

Answer: “I don’t know…probably one of the countless times I’ve flipped on accident!”

Well now…we’ve certainly never done that…ahem

Question: What would you say to someone that wants adventure but doesn’t know how to make the time for it?

Answer: “Make time for it.”

Period. Okay…point taken.

Question: What did you have for breakfast this morning?

Answer: “Microwave Chimichanga”

All we can say is...good thing your ‘office space’ is in the good ole outdoors.

Question: How do you relax?

Answer:“Reggae music”

Love it. No one said you couldn’t be a beach bum on the riverside.

Question: What’s an adventure or destination on your bucket list?

Answer:“I want to climb Fitz Roy in Patagonia”

No, he’s not talking about the clothing brand. Patagonia is actually a region in the Andes mountains at the tip of South America. And the Mt. Fitz Roy climb boasts plenty of adrenaline, thrill and adventure. Mark, we hope you make it there and send us some pics!

Everyone lives life from a paradigm of some sort. And when we find someone that lives it from a ‘thirst for adventure’, we know that’s the type of person we want on our team. Mark, thanks for bringing your expertise and love for adventure to the River Riders family!

Make sure you say hello to Mark when you see him this season. Schedule your white water rafting adventure now!